Share your tips to get kids into cycling to win a kid's bike worth over £200 - plus a copy of On Your Bike!

[SorchaMumsnet]

On Your Bike is an entertaining and informative book which will teach children all they need to know about the wonderful world of cycling.

Sir Chris Hoy, along with the characters of Flying Fergus, teaches children about bikes in this scrapbook-style collage of snapshots from Sir Chris’s own childhood on a bike. It also includes technical drawings, diagrams and practical photography.

This book draws on the Olympic champion's wealth of expertise in a fun, friendly and accessible format. Ringbound to lie flat so you can practice the techniques alongside your bike in the garage, the book also features access to bonus step-by-step videos of Sir Chris demonstrating key tips and tricks.

For a chance to win an Evans HOY Kids bike PLUS a copy of On Your Bike: All You Need To Know About Cycling For Kids, just tell us - what are your tips on getting kids cycling?

This discussion is sponsored by Piccadilly Press and will end on 8 November

Books T&Cs apply

Evans T&Cs:

The prize is one HOY Kids bike under 16inch wheel size, supplied by Evans Cycles. The winner must contact Evans Cycles within one month of notification which will be served to the email provided in competition entry. The winner can only choose a HOY Kids bike under a 16-inch frame that is in stock at Evans Cycles. Evans Cycles will endeavor to supply the bike direct to the customer either through UK address home delivery or click & collect to a local UK Evans Cycles store, either option free of charge and at the winner's choice. The prize is non-transferrable. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash or voucher alternative. The winner cannot use the value of bike against any other item in Evans Cycles.

The balance bike was a revelation to us. They weren't really a common thing until our youngest was at the age to have one, and it made cycling a lot easier to get to grips with compared to the others.

We're city based so it's really important for us to get out into traffic-free areas to get the dc used to cycling. We used to just go to our local park, which isn't too big but large enough to spend an hour or so going up and down the paths. Now they are more confident we are able to take the bikes on the train to go to bigger parks or forested areas. They aren't yet ready to go on the roads but when they are, there are schemes locally which will teach them how to do it safely.

Never tell him how long he is going until the end then tell if what he has achieved ! Loves cycling now .
Hire a bike first so they can see if they like it before you spend out on one that isn't suitable.

Don't appear nervous for them! Dont let them feel your fear!

My son love outdoor activities very much, so learning to ride a bike was easy with us, because he was very enthusiastic about it. The key for me was to encourage him, give him confidence and to practice together. This become a great family time that gives us a lot of fun, freedom, and is great outlet for my kid adventurous spirit:)

Start at a young age but do not rush it. It must be fun. My daughter may only be three but she loved pushing her trike along the sea front and teaching her teddies to ride and she will now sit on it and peddle herself to teach her teddies how to do it.

We love going out as a family on our bikes and my 2 smaller ones go in their trailer, we always let our 4 year old go first on the trail he likes us to follow him, I think with his sensory needs this has been very helpful to him

Let your dc see you enjoying being out on your bike.
Try Long straight pathways ( with no pot holes!).
A good children's bike helps immensely.
Loads of encouragement.
Older siblings can help with playing "traffic games"
Your little ones will be flying along in no time.

Instead of forking out for a balance bike, then having to buy a normal bike, simply remove pedals on a normal bike. Use the bike in same way as a balance bike. Then when your child can whiz along with no feet on the ground put pedals back on and hey presto.. . . Worked a dream with all mine. . .. Happy cycling child, happy pocket, happy days.

Its very scary trying to ride a bike first time but I do find it so much easier if the little ones are started off on a balance bike at a young age. It will give them the confidence boost they need and when they do try a bigger bike it will seem so much easier and natural and they will be off before you know it!

Ditch the stabilisers! My son didn't have a balance bike, so we took the pedals off his bike for a while and he learnt so much faster (and much more happily). This link from Katy Hill an ex Blue Peter presenter is excellent.

We are now starting to be able to cycle as a family.

DS always loved the idea of cycling to school, so it was easy to take him for a few practice runs to the park. It is probably good if they think cycling is the normal and they just need to get on with it.

He was also prepared by his Grandpa's tales of working at weekends to earn enough for a bike.

Having fun on a trike when very small, & then parents having bikes to go rides along with their children. This encourages & gives confidence to deal with roads safely.

Model the behaviour you want them to adopt. I was a very nervous cyclist as a child as neither of my parents rode a bike and weren't at all interested in cycling. In fact a neighbour ended up teaching me to ride on her old bike.

I am still fairly lacking in experience and enthusiasm, but fortunately my DH loves all things bikes, so the DC are being encouraged by him. Luckily we live in an area with plentiful cycling paths in good condition, and this means we don't have to just practice goinground and round the yard.

Get little kids balance bikes. Mine had them from 18 months old. They get really confident wheeling themselves around and the transition to pedal bikes is quite easy as they are not fearful

Lead by example.
We go to pokestops if they're lacking in enthusiasm.
Plenty of little snacks and water.
Comfortable saddle.

Have a balance bike to start with, it is great for the children to get the balance right on a bike, the transition to a normal bike is easy and stabilisers aren't even needed. Allow them to take their balance bike / bike whenever you go for a walk, do the schoolrun etc.

we went with them on the bike rides from ayoung age.with them on the seats on the back of ours so they were round them. then get them excited.a bike of there own!!don't be scared. let them feel they might fall and be ok.
outdoor tennis courts are brilliant places to learn.
do it with them.

Still struggling to get my boys to cycle, so with hindsight, my top tip would have been to start earlier using balance bikes

Balance bikes are a great way to build up a child's confidence.

Make it a family activity. Pack a little picnic

I sent my DS on a day course at our local leisure centre. It really helped his confidence, especially transitioning on to two wheels

Start them young and make it super fun.

We had a child seat and used to go on full days out in the summer from when our DD was old enough to sit up. Picnic, games, plan your routes to be interesting.

our daughter could ride without stabilisers from around 3 years old and to renew her love of cycling, we signed her up for the Bikeability levels 1 - 3. Cycling with peers and having a goal, certificates etc, really inspired her and the added bonus - road safety taught by a professional.

My tips are start early and with a balance bike. My son would even use his balance bike in the house during the winter when he couldn't take it outside. We used to put it in the boot when we went away for a break to stay with friends. It meant he'd go further than walking and got practice at the same time.

He learnt just after he was 4, while his 8 year old cousin still can't ride a bike - he doesn't even bother riding his bike with stabilisers and my sister in law still hasn't followed my recommendation of taking the pedals off.

We now cycle in the park (with me on my scooter), or on bike rides on the roads near us to his cousins' houses.

Start early! First on a bike seat with you, then a balance bike, then a proper pedal bike. So far it's working for us.